Tour of Utah Stage 7 – Britton for Climb Minister

1 year agoby Phil Booth

Rob Britton again proved that he is one of the top riders in North America by climbing to fifth place at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Along the way, Britton claimed the Most Aggressive Rider title for the final stage.

The seven-day stage race covered 949-kilometers and featured over 53,000 ft of climbing. Starting in the majestic Zion National Park on Monday, and concluding today in the resort town of Park City, the Tour of Utah is known as America’s toughest stage Race.

“The peloton lost control over the top of Wolf Creek Ranch Road and the team went to the front to bring it back,” said Britton after the finish in Park City. “From there it was just a matter of who had the legs – Lachlan (Morton) was the strongest. All week I have felt good. I have put in a lot of work to be able to climb with these guys. It is a bit of uncharted territory for me so it is good to see those efforts paying off. The squad was amazing all week. From day one we rode as a team, we knew our objectives, and no one drifted off and did their own thing. You don’t finish top five overall in America’s toughest stage race without an incredible team around you. It’s pretty flattering to have this many guys riding for me.”

How it went down

The seventh and final stage was the last opportunity for Britton to move up the overall standings. Starting in Park City, the peloton faced the tough climb up Wolf Creek Ranch Road and the Hors Category Empire Pass. Early in the stage, the peloton tried to put pressure on Talansky and on the climb of Wolf Creek Ranch Road the race started to break apart. With Rosskopf in the breakaway, and just 20 seconds behind Britton on the general classification, Rally Cycling gave chase and neutralized the threat. As the peloton hit the base of Empire Pass, Morton went on the attack and quickly opened a 20 second gap.Morton’s lead continued to increase while Britton again held steady. At the line in Park City, Morton claimed the stage and overall victory. Britton crossed the line in sixth, claiming the Most Aggressive Rider jersey and locking down fifth overall.

“In general we were just trying to look after Rob,” said Team Director Patrick McCarty after the final stage in Park City. “He has been riding great all week, so we just wanted to keep everything equal into the last climb. The race was ridiculously fast from the gun so we just stuck to the plan. The guys really stepped up. There were a couple of situations out there where things really started to go sideways and the guys knocked it out of the park. Rob had a great ride to finish 5th overall in a race of this caliber. The entire team rode well this week. Danny (Pate), Emerson (Oronte), Evan (Huffman), Eric (Young) Adam (De Vos) and Pierrick (Naud) rode selflessly the entire race. It was a strong team effort.”

Behind the Scenes

Mechanic Special! Rick Barrow’s secret weapon in the rain

At 10,000 feet, storms come and go in the blink of an eye. As the peloton was rolling through its parade laps in Park City, there it came – a downpour. It lasted less than five minutes, but the spastic weather continued throughout the day, even hailing at one point. Scroll down to find out how Rally Cycling helps keep their chains and drivetrains running smoothly no matter what the weather has in store.

“I apply a fresh coat of Finish Line wet lube on rainy days. Most mechanics probably stop there, but I apply a fresh coat of lithium grease, or ceramic based grease, on both sides of the chain to seal it in, and then we wipe off the access. That way the wet lube stays inside the rollers, and the chains stay smooth and quiet all day long.”

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We spotted Rob in Park City, wearing the Most Aggressive Rider jersey, exhausted after climbing wheel to wheel with some of the best in the world.

“Well, now I love that I get paid for it. But before… it was the first thing I’ve ever been good at in my life. I just love riding my bike. There’s no one thing about it. I just love riding my bike.”